nce when clothed in his usual robes. Although he
appeared to be a strong, muscular man, the other Indian, from his
movements, was evidently young and active. How he had ventured to
approach the camp without being armed, was a mystery. He could not, at
all events, have intended to injure any one, or he would have come with
his bow and arrows. As the light rapidly increased, and I saw him more
clearly than at first, it struck me that he was the young brave,
Piomingo, who had lately paid us a visit at the farm; but of this,
seeing him at the distance he was from me, I could not be certain.

The chase promised to be a far longer one than I had expected. The
stranger seemed as resolved to escape as Winnemak was to overtake him.
Few people, Indians or whites, except after long training, could have
continued running so fast and for so long a period as did the spy and
Winnemak.

I had the greatest difficulty in keeping near them; and, indeed, I had
begun to fall behind, when I saw in front of me a broad piece of water.
The fugitive saw it too, but had he turned either to the right or to the
left it would have given an advantage to his pursuer; he therefore kept
straight on.

His efforts to escape were vain. As he approached the bank the ground
became so soft that his feet sunk deep into it at every step. He
discovered, too late, his mistake. Springing back, he attempted to make
his way to the right; but in doing so he fell. Recovering himself,
however, he sprang back on to the firm ground; but seeing that escape by
flight was no longer possible, he turned round and boldly faced his
pursuer. At the same instant a wild swan, rising from the water, flew
off with a loud cry. It might have been taken for the death-wail of one
of the combatants. Like a couple of wild beasts, the two Indians rushed
at each other, and the next instant they were clasped in a deadly
embrace. A desperate struggle ensued. It was youth and activity opposed
to well-knit muscles and firm nerves.

Fierce was the contest. The young man attempted to free himself from the
grasp of his opponent; now they strove to seize each other by the
throat; now his antagonist bore back the chief by making a desperate
spring as his feet for a moment touched the ground; but if the older man
allowed himself to retreat, it was only for the purpose of wearing out
the strength of the younger, which he knew would soon be exhausted.

[Illustration: A DEADLY EMBRACE.]

Winnemak